Essex Heartbeat

Essex Heartbeat is a support group for people in Essex who are living with heart rhythm problems or with an implantable cardiac device.

Believed to be the first such group in our county, Essex Heartbeat aims to provide support and information for anybody with heart rhythm problems or with an implantable cardiac device, including Pacemakers, Biventricular Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs), their family and friends. 

Essex Heartbeat is run by people with heart rhythm problems, for people with heart rhythm problems. We know what it is like to live with a Pacemaker or ICD, or to be on life-long medication to control a heart condition. It can place a strain on the individual and on those around them.

We are affiliated to the British Heart Foundation and the Arrhythmia Alliance.

Meetings: We meet quarterly and our aim is to try and hold meetings in all areas of the county. The meetings consist of a main speaker, usually medical or relevant to members conditions, and sometimes a second speaker on a lighter note. This is followed by refreshments and a chance to socialise with the other members, the arrhythmia nurses then take questions from the floor.

Speakers: Our speakers have included highly regarded medical professionals who specialise in heart rhythm conditions, implantable devices or heart surgery, the Minister of State for Health Simon Burns MP, Professor Weissberg and Professor Newby from the British Heart Foundation, and the East of England Ambulance Service.   

Feedback: Questionnaires are given out at each meeting for members to fill in and tell us how we can make sure the group is run the way the members find most helpful and supportive. 

Social Events: We also hold social events and fund raisers, and try to cater to everyone’s tastes. We welcome any suggestions from members. So far we have held a Quiz Night and a Summer Ball. Future events are planned, among them a Christmas Fayre and a Race Night.

Fundraising: Our fundraising so far has provided two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to vulnerable areas in Essex. We welcome other suggestions from members as to where they think we could perhaps help a deserving cause. So please let us know.  

Planned Events: Christmas Fayre Saturday 26 November 2011 10.00am – 4.00pm at Great Baddow Millennium Community Centre, Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 9RL. Craft stalls, games stalls and refreshments. Please come along for your Christmas gifts and help support us. If you could help run a stall, provide cakes, gifts, bottles etc., or could help in any way please contact the Secretary. 

Support: We have a support line manned by the committee and are in the midst of setting up a system where members can contact other members if they feel they would like to talk to someone with the same condition.

Committee: Essex Heartbeat is run by a committee consisting of a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, two co-opted members and two Arrhythmia Nurse Specialists. The Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon supports Essex Heartbeat and the medical professionals are based there.

Charity Sponsorship: In the 2010/2011 season we were privileged to have been chosen as a sponsored charity of Colchester United Football Club, and in 2011 the Great Baddow Millennium Community Centre in Chelmsford, and we would like to thank them for their generosity, and assistance in helping us to raise funds. 

Patron: Dr Stuart Harris BSc (Hons) MB BS, MRCP (UK)

Chair: Yvonne Brierley

Secretary: Jenny Turner

Treasurer: Position vacant

Martin Fox

Roger Upshaw

Arrhythmia Nurses: Sharon Toora and Lucy Nchapi-Moloisane

For membership enquiries please contact:

The Secretary,

Tel: 01245 477437, email: secretaryessexheartbeat@gmail.com

Arrhythmia Nurses: 01268 524900 ext 4069/4438      Support Line: 07870 377207

Website: www.essexheartbeat.org